Criminal penalty provisions for assaulting transit workers clarification

SF 3946 clarifies Minnesota's law against assaulting transit workers by expanding the definition of "transit worker" to include all employees, contractors, and volunteers in public transportation (not just drivers or operators). It specifies that assaulting or intentionally transferring bodily fluids onto these workers while they're performing job duties becomes a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail or a $3,000 fine. The bill removes outdated references to "transit vehicle operation" and broadens protection to cover more transit staff types during work. The law would take effect on August 1, 2026, applying to incidents occurring after that date.